Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Tuesday Memes: Orphan #8


Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where you can share the first paragraph, or a few, of a book you are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along!

Today I am spotlighting Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade.


A stunning debut novel of historical fiction set in the forgotten world of New York City's Jewish orphanages

In 1919, four-year-old Rachel Rabinowitz is placed in the Hebrew Infant Home where Dr. Mildred Solomon is conducting medical research on the children. Dr. Solomon subjects Rachel to an experimental course of X-ray treatments that establish the doctor's reputation while risking the little girl's health. Now it's 1954, and Rachel is a nurse in the hospice wing of the Old Hebrews Home when elderly Dr. Solomon becomes her patient. Realizing the power she holds over the helpless doctor, Rachel embarks on a dangerous experiment of her own design. Before the night shift ends, Rachel will be forced to choose between forgiveness and revenge.

Inspired by true events, Orphan #8 is a powerful novel about the human capacity to harm—and to love.

Opening

Chapter One

    From her bed of bundled newspapers under the kitchen table, Rachel Rabinowitz watched her mother’s bare feet shuffle to the sink. She heard water filling the kettle, then saw her mother’s heels lift as she stretched up to drop a nickel in the gas meter. There was the sizzle of a struck match, the hiss of the burner, the whoosh of catching flame. As her mother passed the table Rachel reached out to catch the hem of her nightdress.
   “Awake already, little monkey?” Visha peered down, her dark hair hanging in loose curls. Rachel nodded, open eyes eager. “You’ll stay put until the boarders leave for work, yes? You know it makes me nervous when there’s too many people crowding in the kitchen.”

My Teaser

   All the children got x-rayed, that was routine, doesn’t mean a thing. The important work was our research.
page 60

So...what do you think? Is this one you would pick up? Leave a comment below!

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19 comments:

  1. Yes, I've already got this one on my list. It sounds sad and yet I'm drawn to it. Thanks for featuring it!

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  2. Sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy it. My teaser this week comes from the urban fantasy Magic Lost Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin. Happy reading!

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  3. Hadn't heard of this one before--it really sounds good.

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  4. This is already on my reading list, so yes I'd keep reading.

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  5. Oh, I am already intrigued....thanks for sharing! And thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. Sounds promising!! Thanks for stopping by Freda's Voice earlier!

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  7. Wow. There's karma biting you on the butt. Sounds good.

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  8. I am glad you featured this one today as I have been curious about it! I like the sound of this one.

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  9. Oooh - the premise of this one sounds fascinating. I'd definitely keep reading!

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  10. Im adding this to my TBR right now! It sounds so interesting. Thanks for sharing!!
    Trish - my teaser

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  11. The blurb definitely caught my attention and I like the description of the mother's actions in the beginning! And then the teaser feels like a different narrator to me so I'd definitely check this one out! Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a great week!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  12. Yes...I hope I can make it through it. It does sound sad.

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  13. This sounds very promising! Thanks for telling me about it.

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  14. Sounds very interesting,have to add it to my list.

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  15. Ooh yes - this one is going on my list! Love the synopsis and the opening.

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  16. I haven't heard of this book before. The first paragraph made me sad, but I do want to read it.

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  17. Sounds sad, but one I am planning to read as it sounds fascinating.

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  18. This sounds like such an interesting book. Thanks for visiting my blog :)

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  19. Sounds interesting, but sad as well. Thanks for visiting my Teaser this week!

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